Submissions are now closed. Not a large group of shots this time around, but my quick look through shows a pretty high quality in all the submissions, so it will not be an easy job judging. Since I'm going to be out tomorrow night, and out later, I'll get to it right after this post!

This first image is quite powerful. I get a really strong bond feeling between the two people. It feels like a serious, we're in this together, whatever happens, bonding happening. I like how their hands seem to merge together in the shadow. I only have a couple of minor criticisms, which are pretty nitpicky details. I'm a little distracted by the small bit of encroaching tattoo on the woman's right shoulder. I feel it should be cloned out only because there's so little of it there. There's also that one stray hair across her cheek that stands out that I also think should be cloned out. Otherwise, it's a really strong start to the theme.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sideonecincy

I'm surprised there's only one wedding shot in the submissions. You can't get much more romantic that a wedding day photo. Framing them in the opening works well to set them apart from the background. I'm getting a bit of a strange vibe from the couple, though. It looks like the groom is pulling her in, but she's holding back for some reason. The separation between them, even though they're kissing, is taking something away from the romance of the overall scene. I wonder if they were just nervous about the pose for the photograph.

Well done on the framing and leading lines to the couple. I only wish they were a little closer. And... that there wasn't a telephone pole growing out of one of the heads... But maybe that's what the other person finds attractive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schtumple

LA Pride (West Hollywood) 2012

Pride is all about the rainbow. I like that the woman on the left has a rainbow bag that compliments the pride flag in the background. And, the woman on the right echoes some rainbow colors on her wrist. My minor complaint is the telephone pole partially separating them.

This image projects a different romance message. So far we've had obvious romance between two people in the image. This one says romance is waiting for the viewer from one (or maybe both! ) of the subjects. I like the contrast between the two ladies, too. The dark hair with the white top that contrasts with the light hair and dark top. And yet they both have that "bad girl" feel to them. Come be my valentine... if you dare!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryJ

Out having fun on a cold, snowy day. Having fun together is definitely part of romance. Unfortunately, this image is a little too much "snapshot" for my taste.

Quote:

Originally Posted by deep diver

.

(sorry, no thumbnail image for this one)

Old love is some of the best love. This is the kind of image that really brings out what love and romance is and how it survives over the years. It's simple and expresses the feeling very well.

And here we have another old couple together. I like the monotone treatment of this one. Comparing this one to the previous shot, I wish this couple had been holding hands, too. That would have expressed more romance between them. It also seems that including the tree was deliberate, especially since the couple is on one side of it. For me the tree isn't really working since it divides the image in half. I'd like to know your reasoning and thoughts on the tree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterDragon

I was fortunate to capture these beautiful children while visiting Guadalajara, Mexico. Romance at any age is beautiful, happy Valentine's day.

(also missing the quoted image)

Now we have the opposite of old love with a very young couple. As I look at them I want to know more - what are they looking at? The building they're coming out of is dark - what is inside? As far as the quality of the photo, it also falls on the "snapshot" side, though it is more in the street photography category as well.

So now I must come to the winners. Once again it is tough picking. I'm looking for the images that speak to me the most.

First the almost-there's...
3) acearchie
2) deep_diver

And the winner, which has such a strong feel that I just keep going back to it.
1) mustang_dvs

(To answer the criticism: I don't 'retouch' permanent parts of people. Doing so removes the entire purpose of putting a human being in front of the camera. In fact, I rarely even retouch the transient parts.)

Keleko -- thanks for the feedback and an excellent job of judging. When I saw this couple at the nursing home, I thought they had been married forever. I found out later that they were both widowed and found each other at the nursing home. This was very much new love.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustang_dvs

I don't 'retouch' permanent parts of people. Doing so removes the entire purpose of putting a human being in front of the camera. In fact, I rarely even retouch the transient parts.)

mustang_dvs -- I've looked at your flickr page. You have some very powerful images. Your philosophy about retouching gives me a sense that your models are real people in a real world. That's not something seen very often in studio (or any posed) images.

(To answer the criticism: I don't 'retouch' permanent parts of people. Doing so removes the entire purpose of putting a human being in front of the camera. In fact, I rarely even retouch the transient parts.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deep diver

Keleko -- thanks for the feedback and an excellent job of judging. When I saw this couple at the nursing home, I thought they had been married forever. I found out later that they were both widowed and found each other at the nursing home. This was very much new love.

mustang_dvs -- I've looked at your flickr page. You have some very powerful images. Your philosophy about retouching gives me a sense that your models are real people in a real world. That's not something seen very often in studio (or any posed) images.

mustang-dvs - Okay, I see the difference now. I was thinking inside the "perfect model shot" box where all flaws are cleaned up. Since that's not what you're doing, then I understand not retouching the tattoo or much of anything else. I think I'd still consider the stray hair worth retouching, though. Even then the retouch suggestions were only minor points for me since they didn't diminish the power of the image.

deep diver - I wondered if that might have been the case. It makes me happy to hear people can still find new love at any age.

mustang-dvs - Okay, I see the difference now. I was thinking inside the "perfect model shot" box where all flaws are cleaned up. Since that's not what you're doing, then I understand not retouching the tattoo or much of anything else. I think I'd still consider the stray hair worth retouching, though. Even then the retouch suggestions were only minor points for me since they didn't diminish the power of the image..

Sorry for being grouchy (I'm getting over a cold/flu). I'll certainly concede that the hair is a distraction.

And here we go!
Leading lines! They're everywhere! They're coming to get me!

Well done on the framing and leading lines to the couple. I only wish they were a little closer. And... that there wasn't a telephone pole growing out of one of the heads... But maybe that's what the other person finds attractive.

Oh trust me, I was cursing that telephone pole both at the time, and then particularly afterward. The shot however, was totally candid (I have no idea who this couple is). I was just out shooting for the day, they walked past me, and then I grabbed some shots of their afternoon as they strolled across the bridge. Stupid pole.